The truth about anxiety:

[OmniscientNihilist]

anxiety is fear that is not caused by anything external. therefore its caused by something internal. you fear yourself. because you are harming yourself. one part of your mind is harming another part. when you completely stop harming yourself internally then the fear will go away. you wont have to fear yourself anymore. you wont make yourself nervous anymore because you will trust yourself. and you trust yourself because you are kind to yourself. internally. on every level. you have weeded out every last piece of internal self harm that exists. then there is only inner peace.

watch out for tricks. external things that trigger internal self harm. let anxiety be your guide. when it arises its signaling you that there is or will be internal self harm coming. anxiety is trying to protect you. to signal you. to guide you. yet you blame the anxiety and ignore the thoughts and beliefs which are the real cause of the harm. those are the ones to blame not the anxiety. its time for responsibility and introspection. this is the path you and your friend Anxiety will be walking together from now on. hand in hand. catching the culprits like gophers when they pop up.

 

[EclipticNight]

It can be argued that anxiety is also the anticipation harm or an unpleasent experience. One would feel anxiety if handed a fist sized spider in part from fear and in part from worry it will bite.

Instead of harming yourself it can be an overreaction of a person's natural instinct to avoid injury. A skydiver would feel anxiety before the jump due to that small chance the parachute would fail. Leaping off cliffs or aircraft is against our instinct of self preservation.

As for a situation where self harm is not involved, consider a performer like a comedian before a show. They feel anxiety not based on any self harm mentally, its a natural reaction to stress. Stress can cause attacks and fear or self danger are not involved. Ive had attacks because i had to wake up early. I didn't even have plans, i was just correcting my sleep cycle.

So while i agree fear is a major componant i would argue stress, self preservation and a physical fear can cause and sustain it.

 

[LizBo]

It can be argued that anxiety is also the anticipation harm or an unpleasent experience. One would feel anxiety if handed a fist sized spider in part from fear and in part from worry it will bite.

Instead of harming yourself it can be an overreaction of a person's natural instinct to avoid injury. A skydiver would feel anxiety before the jump due to that small chance the parachute would fail. Leaping off cliffs or aircraft is against our instinct of self preservation.

As for a situation where self harm is not involved, consider a performer like a comedian before a show. They feel anxiety not based on any self harm mentally, its a natural reaction to stress. Stress can cause attacks and fear or self danger are not involved. Ive had attacks because i had to wake up early. I didn't even have plans, i was just correcting my sleep cycle.

So while i agree fear is a major componant i would argue stress, self preservation and a physical fear can cause and sustain it.

You've covered this point really well. I'd like to add that due to the effects of trauma on the brain, anxiety attacks can be the result of a tired and damaged brain. It needs time to heal and rest so the response process isn't so overly sensitive.

I remember when I was unwell; anxiety would occur even if a small issue arose like spilling milk on the floor. Add to this adrenaline overload because the adrenaline gland was also damaged. Any source of unexpected event would cause adrenaline to surge which causes the brain to assess it as a fight, flight or freeze situation.

 

[ht46]

What about freuds "modern nervous illness"? Read a bit about that in one of his books.

 

[EclipticNight]

You've covered this point really well. I'd like to add that due to the effects of trauma on the brain, anxiety attacks can be the result of a tired and damaged brain. It needs time to heal and rest so the response process isn't so overly sensitive.

I remember when I was unwell; anxiety would occur even if a small issue arose like spilling milk on the floor. Add to this adrenaline overload because the adrenaline gland was also damaged. Any source of unexpected event would cause adrenaline to surge which causes the brain to assess it as a fight, flight or freeze situation.

I never even considered physical damage, brilliant! Also it sucks you had to go through that.

 

[LizBo]

I never even considered physical damage, brilliant! Also it sucks you had to go through that.

Thanks! Yeah, it was tough, but I wouldn't be the person I am today without coming out the other side.

People don't realise it's the combination of stress experienced over continuous long periods of time along with the anxiety itself causing even more fear. This is what overworks the brain and adrenaline gland causing damage.

Childhood abuse etc was my pre-curser then later in life triggers caused those situations to rise up. The first time I felt calm, I ran to the doctors saying there was something terribly wrong with me because I didn't feel the effects of vibrating in my body. She laughed and said; "You're getting better you silly nong!" lol

I've got to go out, but I'd enjoy a chat about this if you're still around when I return.

 

[Zaz4]

Anxiety is fear that is not caused by anything external???
If you get jumped by a gang of thugs who stab you jump on your head and kick you relentlessly that anxiety or fear is caused completely by external events.

 

[jajingna]

I think of my social anxiety as being caused by my family. I had some very troubled parents. Seems to me that was an external cause.

 

[OmniscientNihilist]

It can be argued that anxiety is also the anticipation harm or an unpleasent experience.

Anxiety is fear that is not caused by anything external???

I had some very troubled parents. Seems to me that was an external cause.

perhaps i should have said 'general anxiety', in order to better differentiate anxiety from fear. Fear comes from external things but general anxiety doesn't. although it may appear to which is an illusion caused by projection and blame, driven by ignorance and lack of awareness of the internal sources.